Common Herbs Used in Children and Adolescents
| HERB | HERBALISTS’ CLASSIFICATION | TYPICAL USES | EVIDENCE BASED ON CLINICAL TRIALS | SIDE EFFECTS AND DRUG INTERACTIONS |
| Aloe Vera | • Anti-inflammatory | External use: Applied topically to treat minor burns, abrasions, insect bites, acne, poison ivy, sunburn, skin irritations, frostbite, and canker sores | • Aloe vera has been an effective topical vulnerary in treating leg ulcers, frostbite, full-face dermabrasions, and partial-thickness burn wounds. In one study of aloe as a treatment for surgical wound healing, the aloe group had delayed healing compared with controls. | Side Effects of leaf lining taken internally: Contact dermatitis, gastric cramping, or diarrhea.2 |
| • Antimicrobial | Internal use: Gel taken as a peptic ulcer remedy and treatment for digestive disorders | • A double-blind, placebo-controlled study demonstrated the healing effect of aloe on psoriasis vulgaris. | Pregnancy and lactation:1 | |
| • Laxative | Leaf lining used as a laxative | • Experimental trials in human immunodeficiency virus-positive adults have had conflicting results in terms of immunomodulatory effects. | Drug Interactions for leaf lining: May potentiate digitalis and cardiac glycosides due to increased potassium loss. May enhance potassium loss with corticosteroids and thiazide diuretics. | |
| • Vulnerary | Other: Reduced absorption of drugs due to decreased bowel transit time. | |||
| Calendula (Calendula officinalis) | • Anti-inflammatory | External use: Skin irritations, rashes, cold sores, eczema, and conjunctivitis | • A few clinical trials support topical use to accelerate wound healing and ulcers. | Side Effects:2 |
| • Antiseptic | Pregnancy and lactation:1 | |||
| • Antispasmodic | Drug Interactions: None known. | |||
| • Vulnerary | ||||
| Catnip (Nepetia cataria) | • Antipyretic | Low-grade fever, upper respiratory tract infection, colic, headache, nervousness, sleep disorders, indigestion | • No clinical studies. | Side Effects: One case report of central nervous system depression in toddler.2 |
| • Antispasmodic | Pregnancy and lactation:1 | |||
| • Calmative | Drug Interactions: None known. | |||
| • Carminative | ||||
| • Diaphoretic | ||||
| Digestive aid | ||||
| • Diuretic | ||||
| • Sedative | ||||
| Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis) | • Anti-inflammatory | External use: Skin irritation, prevention and treatment of cracked nipples | • In controlled trials, chamomile and its constituents have had positive effects on wound healing, as a mild sedative, and in combination with other herbs as a treatment for infant colic. | Side Effects:2 |
| • Antispasmodic | Internal use: Colic, peptic ulcer disease, eething, sleep problems, anxiety | • Mixed results in the efficacy of the treatment of chemotherapy/radiation-induced mucositis. | Pregnancy and lactation: No known adverse effects in pregnancy, lactation, and childhood. | |
| • Carminative | Drug Interactions: None known. | |||
| • Nervine | ||||
| • Sedative | ||||
| • Vulnerary | ||||
| Evening Primrose Oil (Oenothera biennis) | • Anti-inflammatory | • Asthmatic coughs, whooping cough, gastrointestinal disorders | • No studies on asthma or diphtheria. | Side Effects: Gastrointestinal disturbances and headaches2 |
| • Sedative | • Mastalgia, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) | • Effective in treatment of mastalgia; unclear effect in treatment of fibrocystic breast disease. A meta-analysis of seven placebo-controlled trials found little value in managing PMS, although these studies were small. | Pregnancy and Lactation:1 | |
| • Anticoagulant | • Atopic eczema, psoriasis, acne | • Data on effectiveness in treating atopic dermatitis and other dermatologic disorders are mixed. | Drug Interactions: None known, but caution is suggested for patients taking phenothiazine and other drugs that reduce the seizure threshold. | |
| • Astringent | • Rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and other autoimmune diseases | • Preliminary studies appear promising for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. | ||
| • Diabetic neuropathy, intermittent claudication | • Effective in treating diabetic neuropathy in two studies. | |||
| Fennel (foeniculum vulgare) | • Antimicrobial | • Colic, dyspnea, bloating, fullness, flatulence and diarrhea in infants | • One study showed an herbal combination including fennel was helpful in treating colic. | Side Effects:2 |
| • Antispasmodic | • Cough, bronchitis, upper respiratory tract infection, conjunctivitis | Pregnancy and lactation:1 | ||
| • Carminative | Drug Interactions: None known. | |||
| • Diuretic | ||||
| • Galactagogue | ||||
| • Expectorant | ||||
| • Mild laxative | ||||
| Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenicum) | • Anti-inflammatory | • Migraine headache, nausea and vomiting, arthritis, fever | • Clinical research in migraine treatment or prophylaxis shows mixed results, but tends to support feverfew as a prophylactic agent. | Side Effects: Rebound headache, oral ulcers, and gastric disturbances.2 |
| • Antipyretic | • Not helpful in one study of treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. | Pregnancy and lactation:1 | ||
| • Antispasmodic | Drug Interactions: May potentiate effects of anticoagulants and aspirin. | |||
| Garlic (Allium sativum) | • Anti-inflammatory | • Ear infections, upper respiratory tract infection, cough/bronchitis, atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, hypertension, gastrointestinal disorders, menstrual disorders, diabetes mellitus | • Mild beneficial effect on serum lipids and reducing serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Modest antihypertensive effect. | Side Effects: Flatulence, heart burn, gastric disturbances.2 |
| • Antimicrobial | • A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial found no change in cardiovascular risk factors compared with placebo in children who had familial hyperlipidemia. | Pregnancy and lactation: Reported emmenagogue in large amounts.1 | ||
| • Antioxidant | Drug Interactions: Inhibits platelet aggregation, prolongs bleeding and clotting times, and has fibrinolytic activity. Use large doses with caution for patients taking anticoagulants and anti-inflammatory drugs. | |||
| • Antispasmodic | ||||
| • Carminative | ||||
| • Diaphoretic | ||||
| • Diuretic | ||||
| • Expectorant | ||||
| • Hypoglycemic | ||||
| • Hypotensive | ||||
| • Lipid-lowering | ||||
| • Stimulant | ||||
| Ginger (Zingiber officinale) | • Antiemetic | • Colic, anorexia; indigestion; prevention of vomiting and nausea in motion sickness, morning sickness, and postoperative nausea; upper respiratory tract infection, cough, and bronchitis | • Mixed results for treatment for motion sickness and postsurgical nausea and vomiting.Helpful in treating hyperemesis gravidarum. | Side Effects: Heartburn2 |
| • Antispasmodic | Contraindictions: Patients with gallstones due to cholagogue effect. | |||
| • Antiviral | Pregnancy and lactation:1 | |||
| • Carminative | Drug Interactions: May potentiate anticoagulants | |||
| • Immune modulator | ||||
| • Stimulates digestion | ||||
| Ginkgo biloba | • Anticoagulant at high doses | • Improving circulation in the brain and periphery | • Controlled trials reported positive results in the treatment of chronic cerebral insufficiency. | Side Effects: Headache, dizziness, palpitation, gastrointestinal disorder, dermatitis2 |
| • Vasoactive | • Arteriosclerosis, cerebral ischemia, claudication | • Several double-blind, placebo-controlled trials studying patients who have memory loss showed some improvement in memory. | Pregnancy and lactation:1 | |
| • Alzheimer disease, dementia, senility | • Randomized controlled studies showed promise in treating memory loss and psychopathologic conditions in Alzheimer disease and dementia. | Drug Interactions: May potentiate other anticoagulants; can hinder blood clotting at high doses. | ||
| • Arthritic and rheumatic problems | • Controlled studies on intermittent claudication showed favorable results. | |||
| • Lung and bronchial congestion, Raynaud disease, tinnitus, vertigo, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder | • No studies on pulmonary problems or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. | |||
| Goldenseal (Hydratis canadensis) | • Antihemorrhagic | External use: Conjunctivitis, boils, inflammation of gums, hemorrhoids, fungal infections | • Randomized controlled studies demonstrate that berberine, a constituent of goldenseal, is effective in treating diarrhea. | Side Effects: For large doses, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, mucocutaneous irritation; increased cardiac and uterine contractility, vasoconstriction, central nervous system stimulation, and neonatal jaundice. |
| • Anti-inflammatory | Internal use: Diarrhea and other digestive disorders, upper respiratory tract infection, postpartum bleeding | • No clinical studies on treatment of conjunctivitis, upper respiratory tract infection, or postpartum bleeding. | Pregnancy and lactation: Avoid in pregnancy and lactation. Not recommended for infants. Berberine displaces bilirubin from albumin. | |
| • Antimicrobial | Drug Interactions: None known. | |||
| • Antiseptic | ||||
| • Astringent | ||||
| • Digestive aid | ||||
| • Oxytocic | ||||
| • Vulnerary | ||||
| Hops (Humulus lupulus) | • Antispasmodic | • Nervousness, irritability, insomnia, indigestion | • No clinical studies. | Side Effects:2, skin irritation |
| • Bitters | Pregnancy and lactation:1 | |||
| • Diuretic | Drug Interactions: Sedative activity increases the sleeping time induced by pentobarbital. | |||
| • Hypnotic | ||||
| • Sedative | ||||
| Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) | • Antispasmodic | • Oral and genital herpes, insomnia, anxiety, depression | • One study showed a sleep-promoting effect of the combination of valerian and lemon balm. | Side Effects:2 |
| • Anxiolytic | Drug Interactions: None known. | |||
| • Calmative | Drug Interactions: None known. | |||
| • Digestive aid | ||||
| Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) | • Adrenocorticotropic | • Asthma, cough, sore throat, upper respiratory tract infection, bronchitis, stomach ulcers and digestive disturbances, constipation, colic, cholestatic liver disorders and liver disease, adrenocorticoid insufficiency, hypokalemia, hypertonia, arthritis | • Licorice, in combination with other herbs, was effective in treating infant colic. | Side Effects: Long-term use may lead to a mineralocorticoid effect, hypertension, potassium wasting, and arrhythmias.2 |
| • Anti-inflammatory | • Constituents of licorice have proven effective in treating gastric ulcer in several studies. | Pregnancy and lactation:1 | ||
| • Antiviral | • Licorice, combined with other Chinese herbs, appears effective in treating severe eczema. | Contraindications: Patients who have hypertension, diabetes, hypokalemia, liver disorders, or kidney disease. | ||
| • Antispasmodic | Drug Interactions: May potentiate digitalis and cardiac glycosides due to increased potassium loss. May increase potassium loss in patients taking corticosteroids and thiazude diuretics. | |||
| • Antitussive | ||||
| • Antiulcer | ||||
| • Demulcent | ||||
| • Expectorant | ||||
| • Laxative | ||||
| Peppermint (Mentha piperita) | • Antimicrobial | External use: Muscle aches, neuralgia, headache | • Enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules appear helpful in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome/spastic colon. Peppermint oil relieves intestinal spasms during barium enema and endoscopy. | Side Effects: Abdominal pain, heartburn, and perianal burning or hypersensitivity reactions.2 |
| • Digestive aid | Internal use: Indigestion, nausea, diarrhea, flatulent colic, anorexia, inflammatory bowel disease, spastic complaints of the gastrointestinal tract as well as gallbladder and bile ducts, upper respiratory tract infection, cough, tension headache | • Clinical trials have examined a positive role in treating postoperative nausea, nonulcer dyspepsia in combination with caraway oil, and tension-type headaches. | Contraindications: Biliary duct occlusion, gallbladder inflammation, liver disease, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Patients who have gallstones could develop colic due to peppermint’s cholagogic effect. | |
| • Carminative | Pregnancy and lactation:1 | |||
| • Antispasmodic | Drug Interactions: None known. | |||
| • Cholagogic | ||||
| • Secretolytic | ||||
| • Stimulant | ||||
| Purple Cone Flower (Echinacea angustifolia or E purpurea) | • Anti-inflammatory | External use: Boils, ulcerations, burns, herpes simplex | • Controlled studies for Echinacea as an immune modulator to prevent and treat colds and influenza showed mixed results. Several randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies showed a reduction in cold symptoms. However, in one study, Echinacea did not significantly decrease the incidence, duration, or severity of colds and respiratory infections compared with placebo. | Side Effects: Dermatitis2 |
| • Antimicrobial | Internal use: Prevention and supportive therapy for upper respiratory tract infection, urinary tract infection, yeast infection, and other infections. | Pregnancy and lactation:1 | ||
| • Antiseptic | Drug Interactions: Possible unknown interactions with other immunomodulators. | |||
| • Immune modulator | ||||
| • Peripheral vasodilator | ||||
| Slippery Elm Bark (Ulmus fulva) | • Antitussive | External use: Minor skin irritations, cold sores, ulcers, abscesses, and boils | • No clinical studies. | Side Effects: Dermatitis2 |
| • Antiviral | Internal use: Diarrhea, colic, inflammation or ulcerations of stomach or duodenum, urinary tract infections, sore throats, upper respiratory tract infections, abortifacient | Drug Interactions: None known. | ||
| • Demulcent | Pregnancy and lactation:1 The whole bark has been used to induce abortions. There are no reported problems with the use of powdered slippery elm. | |||
| • Digestive aid | ||||
| • Emollient | ||||
| St. Johns Wort (Hypericum perforatum) | • Antidepressant | External use: Wounds, burns, neuralgia, contusions | • Double-blind, randomized, controlled trials demonstrate significant effectiveness in the treatment of mild-to-moderate depression. | Side Effects: Gastrointestinal symptoms, sedation, dizziness, and confusion. Photosensitivity is rare but can be severe.2 |
| • Anti-inflammatory | Internal use: Depression, nervousness, anxiety | • Pilot case series have shown encouraging effects on immune function in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients. | Pregnancy and lactation:1 | |
| • Astringent | Drug Interactions: None known. | |||
| • Antimicrobial | ||||
| • Sedative | ||||
| • Immunomodulator | ||||
| Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) | • Antimicrobial | • Bronchitis/cough, sore throat, upper respiratory tract infection, indigestion, colic, gastritis, dyspepsia, diarrhea, and enuresis | • No clinical studies specifically on thyme. | Side Effects: Thyme essential oil can be a mucous membrane irritant.2 |
| • Antitussive | • An herbal combination that included thyme had positive effects on alopecia. | Pregnancy and lactation:1 | ||
| • Astringent | Drug Interactions: None known. | |||
| • Carminative | ||||
| • Antispasmodic | ||||
| • Antiseptic | ||||
| • Diuretic | ||||
| • Expectorant | ||||
| Valerian (Valeriana officianalis) | • Anodyne | • Insomnia, restlessness, menstrual cramps, rheumatic pain | • Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies showed decreased sleep latency and improved sleep quality. | Side Effects: Headaches, insomnia2 |
| • Antispasmodic | Pregnancy and lactation:1 | |||
| • Hypnotic | Drug Interactions: Sedative activity increases the sleeping time induced by pentobarbital. | |||
| • Hypotensive | ||||
| • Sedative |